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Henry Smith
wrote on July 27, 2014:
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Video from the air of Ben More accompanied by music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37IYuaW10IY
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James Corrigan
wrote on May 7, 2011:
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Heard so much about the Crianlarich North approach to Ben More and the relentless slog with no let up.Everything said is true.1174m of hard going.Started from the lay by across from Loch Lubhair just before Ben More Farm.Sign post points "To Ben More" Cross a high style and on to a land rover track which starts steeply and stays so until you reach a gate.Cross the burn here and head up steeply as usual along side the stream.Keep with this for about 1500ft and you run in to a well worn and rocky path.This takes you North west and on to a high shoulder.The next steep part comes in to view but only limited as the cloud was now down.There is a large corrie to your right which some folk were in.I did not fancy the look of that so upwards on the rocky path all the way to the top.Large Cairn first with a trig pillar just visible in the cloud a few yards ahead.Deep bolt hole below it, in there for a much needed drink. Downwards is a total knee basher. Be fit. Be ready if you do Ben More.
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Thom Fish
wrote on September 12, 2010:
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We took the route from the North - A84 near Crianlarich. It is a long pull up to Ben More's summit. The first section after
leaving the road is quite steep, muddy, and with no clear path that we could find. The second section has a clear path
but is very steep - 1:1 in some places but still a walk rather than a scramble. It was good to reach the summit of that one
in just over two hours.
After lunch, we descended to the Bealach and took the ridge walk up to Stob Binnein. It took almost as long to descend
Ben More to the Bealach as it did to climb the four or five hundred feet to the second summit. The weather turned against
us at this point with 40mph winds and accompanying needle wind. Returning to the Bealach, we sought a quick route
down by taking the sheep track to the left round Ben More.
This proved to be a steep, long and muddy descent, eventually reaching the path we had started on in the morning.
We were pretty tired by the end of this one, and also pretty wet and muddy,
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Alan Cantwell
wrote on May 4, 2010:
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Stob Binnein & Ben More are definitely best accessed (according to people we met at the summit who had slogged up from Ben More
Farm) from Inverlochlarig. Whether or not to go straight for Stob Binnein then Ben More by the “direct route” is a matter of preference.
The “indirect” route behind the farm by the track means that you walk through some pretty boggy ground to end up in the valley
between the two mountains so you have to climb constantly to reach one summit, then down and back up like a skateboarder in a half
pipe to access the next one, then back down again!! We did the direct route and found it to be a really nice day out, despite some
pretty hard work at some sections, the exit via the track is really welcome after the hard work at higher level.
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Adam Rixon
wrote on February 15, 2010:
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Climbed from Benmore farm in Dec 2009. I can see why many people describe this as a slog (it's a uniformly steep, pathless, grassy hillside until you reach the path by the wall on the edge of the hanging corrie at ~750m). However we had plenty to distract us from the steepness, walking out of a cloud inversion at 300m, then another which formed at 1000m later in the day! Also had to negotiate frozen snowfields above 1000m, cutting steps for my mate who didn't have crampons. Stunning views from the top, Ben Lui and Ben Lawers peeking out above a sea of cloud. An unforgettable day.
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Cameron Gair
wrote on September 14, 2009:
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Climbed with my son on 12/09/09. Weather excellent. Sunny with A slight breeze at top. Parked in wide verge on A85 & climbed from Benmore Farm as did a lot of other people. Followed the Munromagic route. Tough climb but worth it. Didn't find the path until well up therefore could do with waymark for start. Once on the path the going is much easier. The top wasn't really as steep or high as I had thought but in bad weather could be a problem. Got to top of Ben More in 1 hour 45 mins. Short break then onto Stob Binnein which was O.K. The descent from the Bealach was a bit boggy and slippy.
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Andy Winter
wrote on June 1, 2009:
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I don't recommend the forest approach from layby. There is a small overgrown path marked with yellow posts round Dun Odhar (NN446268), emerges into a steep gully. Coming back Allt Chaorach (east side) is lovely until hitting forest where the promised Harvey's map path at 462252 after the sheilings is nowhere to be seen: had to struggle down deeply boggy overgrown rides till hitting track at 462264. A shame as this round is otherwise very satisfying.
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Leon Mooney
wrote on August 8, 2007:
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Climbed on 8/8/07 - parked next to the sign just to the east of Benmore farm, followed the track until it turned south and began the trudge up the steep grass slopes. Caught up with another walker and together we slogged up until I noticed a path on our left, which we were delighted to use (I have no idea where the start of it was). The cloud surrounded the summit, leaving us eating with the sun overhead and no view - unitl Stob Binnein appeared to the south. A very worthwhile ascent - despite being hard work.
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Christine George
wrote on July 30, 2007:
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Parked on the layby near bridge A85,(NN454277) a small path leaves from the back of the car park through a small meadow to a forest road (stile). Go up the forest road for about a mile and look for a path on the right (marked with a small cairn) that goes uphill through the forest. This eventually leads onto the hillside and follow slight path that leads uphill through wet grass to reach a stile over a deer fence. Follow deer fence up onto the lowest part of Sron nan Forsairean ridge and then you can follow traces of a path that leads right to the cairn at the top of Ben More.
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Sam Barber
wrote on March 14, 2007:
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We chose the longer approach from the layby on the A85 through the old plantation, that leads eventually to the mouth of the Ben More/Stob Binnean/Stob Creagach horseshoe.
Ascended the Srón nam Fórsairean with the snow line at around 600-700m. Initial stages helped by shelter of the ridge ahead, but once above the first couple of false summits
stinging horizontal hail in extreme winds made progress increasingly slow and challenging. Very glad I'd read up on this route and knew to keep to the right of the ridge's apex; the cliffs to the right were formidable, from the brief glimpses I got of them through the whiteout, and heavy snow had built up on the edge; if we'd gone along the crest I wouldn't be around to write this. Very steep, hard snow towards the summit; extremely dangerous ice climbing with hands and feet. And all without an ice axe! Upon descent, with weather worsening considerably and my hip sore, I made the call to escape over Meall Thairbh. High adventure!
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Clive Thorogood
wrote on July 11, 2006:
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Climbed on perfect still day in May 2005. Decided just to go for it straight up from Benmore farm and the view back towards Crianlarich gets better with every sweaty step. There is a 'false summit' rocky outcrop at around 1000 metres, a bit frustrating at not being the actual top but still a good spot to sit down and take in the climb. Obvious route continues through bealach and up to Stob Binnein. Returned via same bealach the down west slopes to Benmore Burn. If staying at Crianlarich, it is only a half hour walk back along the road from Benmore (via two pubs).
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Robert Lyall
wrote on April 18, 2006:
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We parked on the roadside approx 150m east of Ben More Farm, following the sign 'Ben More' onto a zig zag farm track under pylons. We left the track at the gate (last bend) then headed SE - an unrelenting steep direct route. We hit the snow line at around 800m, a steep, icy slippy and slightly scary approach. The axe was out! beautiful view at the top. We dropped down to Bealach-eadar-dha Beinn then S & SSE to the summit of Stob Binnein. Snow all the way! Returned to Bealach-eadar-dha Beinn then dropped down West towards Ben More Burn. The descent was very wet and boggy - picked up the track near the forest in Ben More Glen. A great days walking; & don't forget the camera.
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Davy Robertson
wrote on August 23, 2005:
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Whit a climb
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Michelle Brand
wrote on August 8, 2005:
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Climbed on beautiful summers day (7 August 2005). Had put this one off for some time due to it being so steep looking. Climbed from main road straight up along old ruined wall. Climb took 1 1/2 hrs from bottom to summit. Although there was a bitterly cold wind on the way up, this died away at the top. Probably one of the best Munro's for views. Definately has to be done however would advise for safetly reasons doing in the summer as a lot of rocks at top which would get really slippy when wet and lot of crevasses that would be masked by snow
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Martin Guckian
wrote on June 8, 2005:
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Climbed Ben More on 12th March 2005, it was a nice sunny day but a bitter cold wind. Unfortuantely i didnt have crampons with me and the summit of Ben More was like an ice rink, I meet three other guys one of them had crampons and I folowed down behind him steping in his foot holes he made with his crampons. So always be prepared when there's snow! Apart from this life threatining situation, it was a fabulous day out and very enjoyable! Great views at the top.
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Thomas Smith
wrote on June 4, 2005:
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Good mountain, me and Wee Nic headed SE just on entry to Ben More Glen what a hike! Views excellent after reaching summit headed S to Stob Binnein possibly the best days walking I've had yet. Loving it
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John Malcolm
wrote on May 22, 2005:
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Wow.....climbed Ben More and Stob Binnein yesterday on a perfect day. Views were spectacular and wind was virtually non-existant. Climb was fairly easy and made the summit of Ben More in two hours, Stob Binnein in another hour and back to car two hours later. These Munros are definately up there with my favourites.
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Gordon Green
wrote on March 11, 2005:
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Up the N-E ridge on 8th March 2005, a bright and sunny day. The route through the forest was tedious and to get to the ridge needed some cross country work. It was well worth it. Once on the ridge and past the deer fence the walking became superb. There was enough snow to make the couple of crags on the route into easy scambles. The snow on top of Ben More was superb. Stob Binnein had less of a snow covering and the bealach had hardly any. Retraced route back over Ben More, down the NE ridge - directly towards the car park. This is not recommended - gets steep and then difficult in forest.
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Sandra Macleod
wrote on December 7, 2004:
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Climbed on a perfect summer's day in August. Took the direct route from Benmore Farmand completed both munros in just over 5 and a half hours but the view more than compensated for the stiff legs! The panorama at the top covered Ben Lomond to Ben Nevis and everything in between. Incredible. The wind was very cold on the walk up Stob Binnein and even in sunny August warm jumpers/hats were required. Would do these again from the opposite side for the scrambling up to Ben More. Fabulous views, fantastic day.
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Joseph Buchanan
wrote on January 19, 2004:
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Climbed on Jan 17 weather perfect for a winter climb. Took the direct route up which was stiff but not too bad. It was soft snow underfoot for most of the way. Amazing views from the summit. We then headed for Stob Binnean, had to stop on the bealach as we needed to put on crampons as it was mostly ice from then on with little pockets of snow. Back down to the bealach and decended from there onto the rough road. My best day out so far by a mile
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Ian Wilson
wrote on December 7, 2003:
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Ascended the mountian via the north east ridge. Little difficulty other than a spot of fun clambering over the high wire deer fence on the lower slopes. The conditions turned out to be far better than had been forecasted. We were treated to several Broken Spectres on both the ascent and descent of the ridge. When we got to the summit the views were stunning. There were Munros everywhere peeping out of the cloud inversion like islands in a white foamy ocean. Ben Nevis was clearly visible as was the other Ben More on Mull and also the distant Cairngorms. A halcyon day.
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Alan Lorimer
wrote on October 3, 2003:
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Went up from Crianlarich side. The day was overcast with sun from a clear blue sky above the clouds breaking through to light up Glen Dochart like giant searchlights. Since the sky was changing so quickly you might guess that it was windy. Difficult to stand and breathe at the top, so carried on towards Stob Binnein. Cloud came down and wind became unbearable. Sheltered behind a convenient large rock at the bealach for nearly an hour hoping the wind would moderate. It didn't, so Stob Binnein had to wait for another day. Descent from the bealach to rejoin the rough road took about 30 mins.
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John Walker
wrote on June 20, 2002:
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Straight up the side from the road......cruel.
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